Protect Your Yield

Daubert Cromwell, The Leading Name in Corrosion Prevention, announced that its Daubert VCI Films with BioNatur technology offer manufacturers in the automotive, electric vehicle (EV), and aerospace and defense sectors a first-of-its-kind end-of-life solution for industrial packaging film — one that transforms used VCI film from a persistent landfill liability into a contributor to renewable energy generation.

As packaging sustainability requirements intensify across these industries, Daubert VCI Films with BioNatur provide a verifiable and cost-neutral path forward  without compromising the corrosion protection performance that manufacturers in these sectors depend on.

The End-of-Life Problem with Conventional VCI Film

VCI packaging film is indispensable in automotive, EV, and aerospace and defense manufacturing. Metal components - from EV battery housings and motor assemblies to precision-machined airframe parts and avionics hardware — require continuous, reliable protection from rust, oxidation, and tarnish throughout every phase of manufacture, storage, and global shipment. As a result, these industries consume VCI film at significant volume, year after year.

The challenge is what happens to that film at the end of its life. While recycling these films continues to be encouraged (and Daubert Cromwell's BioNatur VCI films remain 100% recyclable where films are collected), over 95% of flexible industrial plastics ultimately end up in landfills where conventional polyethylene persists for centuries without breaking down. It contributes no organic feedstock to landfill gas systems, generates no energy return, and accumulates indefinitely as inert waste. For manufacturers facing growing regulatory and industry pressure to address the full lifecycle impact of their packaging materials, this has become an increasingly urgent and unresolved problem — until now.

A Better End of Life: Biodegradation That Generates Renewable Energy

Daubert VCI Films with BioNatur are the world's first polyethylene VCI films engineered to biodegrade in anaerobic conditions - the same oxygen-free environment present in most active landfills. Rather than persisting indefinitely, these films break down through natural microbial activity, contributing organic material to the landfill's decomposition process and generating methane-rich landfill gas (LFG) as a byproduct.

That gas doesn't go to waste. Landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) infrastructure - already in place at hundreds of landfill sites across North America and globally - captures this methane and converts it into electricity or pipeline-quality renewable natural gas (RNG). Every ton of BioNatur® film that enters a landfill therefore contributes to a renewable energy output that conventional plastic film never could.

Third-party validated under ASTM D5511, Daubert VCI Films with BioNatur achieve 99.7% biodegradation in under five years in laboratory conditions. The films break down entirely into water, gases, and organic soil matter, leaving behind no harmful microplastic residue and no contaminants that could affect landfill leachate management or gas quality.

This end-of-life pathway requires no changes to existing waste management infrastructure. The films biodegrade within standard anaerobic landfill cells - no specialized composting facilities, no separate waste streams, and no new handling requirements for manufacturers, logistics providers, or waste haulers.

Two Responsible End-of-Life Pathways

Daubert VCI Films with BioNatur give manufacturers flexibility at end of life, with two fully responsible disposal options:

• Recycling: The films remain 100% recyclable in standard polyethylene recycling streams, requiring no segregation or special handling at materials recovery facilities (MRFs).
• Landfill Biodegradation: If sent to landfill, the films biodegrade under anaerobic conditions, generating landfill gas that LFGTE operators can capture and convert into renewable electricity or RNG - leaving no microplastics and no harmful residue behind.

In both cases, the film's end-of-life impact is fundamentally different from conventional industrial PE packaging - and fully verifiable through recognized third-party testing standards.

Protection Performance Without Compromise

For operations and supply chain managers in automotive, EV, and aerospace and defense manufacturing, there is no trade-off between end-of-life sustainability and in-service protection performance. Daubert VCI Films with BioNatur® are engineered to perform identically to traditional VCI films across all critical metrics:

• Full-spectrum metal protection - steel, cast iron, copper, and complex multi-metal assemblies, including the mixed-metal compositions common in EV drivetrains and aerospace subassemblies
• Tensile strength and tear resistance suited to demanding production floor and global logistics environments
• Extended protection lifecycle - from days on a production floor to months in warehouse storage or ocean freight containers
• No oils, greases, or secondary coatings required — metal parts emerge clean and ready for immediate use or further assembly upon unpacking

Critically, BioNatur films remain fully stable and protective throughout their entire service life, only beginning to biodegrade upon exposure to the anaerobic conditions found in most landfills, never during use or storage.

Verifiable Compliance for Regulated Industries

Automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and aerospace and defense require packaging solutions that can be documented, audited, and reported. Daubert VCI Films with BioNatur® provide exactly that:

• ASTM D5511 third-party biodegradability validation — a recognized, auditable testing standard accepted across sustainability and regulatory reporting frameworks
• EU Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste compliance - essential for manufacturers with European production, export, or supply chain operations
• Recyclability with standard polyethylene streams - no segregation, no special handling, and no new waste management infrastructure required

Sustainability teams, EHS managers, and procurement officers can incorporate BioNatur® film adoption into packaging lifecycle reporting and regulatory compliance documentation with real, auditable data behind every claim.

The "Drop-In" Win

Replacing legacy plastics with biodegradable options like BioNatur VCI films instantly reduces the OEM's incoming plastic waste footprint without requiring changes to packing processes.

The films are manufactured to the same specifications as traditional Daubert VCI films, integrate seamlessly into existing packaging lines and workflows, and require no changes to downstream waste management or recycling operations. For operations leaders managing tight production schedules, component protection requirements, and logistics complexity, this is a meaningful improvement in packaging end-of-life impact with zero operational disruption.

"For automotive, EV, and aerospace and defense manufacturers, the question of what happens to their packaging at end of life has never had a satisfying answer — until now," said Karen Clements, Director of Marketing at Daubert Cromwell. "Daubert VCI Films with BioNatur don't get dumped into a landfill and persist for centuries. They biodegrade naturally under anaerobic conditions, generating landfill gas that can be captured and converted into renewable energy. That's a fundamentally better outcome - for manufacturers, for landfill operators, and for the communities they serve - and it comes with zero compromise on the corrosion protection performance our customers depend on."

Daubert Cromwell | daubertcromwell.com/daubert-vci-films-bionatur-biodegradable

Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) ("Eos" or the “Company”), America's leading innovator in designing, manufacturing and providing zinc-based long-duration energy storage systems sourced and manufactured in the United States, announced the results of independent destructive testing of its Eos Z3 battery modules. Energy Safety Response Group (ESRG), an independent energy storage safety and fire testing organization, conducted testing equivalent to large-scale fire testing (LSFT). Under the conditions tested, the modules exhibited no thermal runaway, no sustained fire, and no propagation to adjacent live modules.

The 2026 edition of NFPA 855, the standard governing the installation of stationary energy storage systems, now requires large-scale fire testing to confirm that a system failure does not spread between units at specified spacing. To address these evolving requirements, Eos subjected modules to two severe abuse scenarios: direct flame impingement and overcharge. Even with active flame applied, the modules did not enter thermal runaway, did not sustain fire, and did not propagate to adjacent modules. The tests also showed no ignition of off-gas.

“The inherent fire safety of our zinc aqueous chemistry has been foundational to Eos from the beginning,” said Francis Richey, Eos Chief Technology Officer. “Independent testing using LSFT-equivalent methods turns that design into validated performance. Under direct flame and overcharge, the Z3 modules did not experience thermal runaway, sustain fire, or propagate failure. These are the outcomes that matter most to customers, regulators, first responders, and the communities that host our systems.”

The results reflect the inherent safety advantages of Eos’ water-based electrolyte and flame-retardant polymer architecture, which give long-duration storage a fundamentally different fire and thermal runaway risk profile than conventional chemistries. ESRG evaluated the modules under conditions more severe than those typically expected in real-world applications.

High-voltage, large-scale energy storage systems carry inherent electrical risks similar to those found in any type of power plant. Testing equivalent to large-scale fire testing is essential to understanding how these systems behave under failure conditions. In such destructive testing, the Eos battery module demonstrated a distinct safety profile, with no evidence of thermal runaway or propagation, outcomes that are highly relevant for effective risk mitigation, informed project siting, and ensuring long-term asset reliability.

"As energy storage becomes a larger part of our nation's energy infrastructure, communities need confidence that safety is being prioritized,” said Matthew Brown, Chief of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services. “In November 2025, my department, along with several municipal departments, responded to an incident involving overcharged battery modules at Eos' Turtle Creek facility. Even under that real-world stress, the system did not enter thermal runaway or escalate into a fire event. Eos' recent independent fire test further validates what we witnessed firsthand in the field."

“Energy storage is now critical infrastructure, and critical infrastructure has to be safe enough to sit close to where people live and work,” said Joe Mastrangelo, Eos Chief Executive Officer. “As data centers, utilities, and industrial users add storage inside dense urban environments, the market needs systems that scale without adding fire risk. ESRG’s independent testing validates that Eos technology is built to do exactly that, and it speaks directly to the siting, permitting, and insurance questions that shape where storage can go.”

Separately, Eos announced it has achieved ISO 14001 certification, the globally recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS), following a comprehensive third-party evaluation. This certification confirms that Eos maintains robust environmental management practices that strengthen operational performance, risk management, and cost efficiency. The achievement reflects the maturity of Eos’ environmental practices across its operations and manufacturing facilities.

ESRG’s independent test results and the ISO 14001 certification provide third-party validation of Eos’ core technology and manufacturing operations, reinforcing the differentiated safety profile of Eos’ zinc-based chemistry as Eos scales toward 4 GWh of annual production capacity across its Turtle Creek and recently commercialized Thorn Hill facilities.

Eos Energy Enterprises | www.eose.com

The International Energy Conservation Code covers energy efficiency, of course, but the codes also promote occupant health, safety, and building durability. Energy Codes could actually be called "Building Resiliency Codes". The codes incorporate building specifications that keep out moisture and condensation, thus preventing mold growth and increasing building longevity. They include equipment and testing which provides fresh air for the occupants, thus making the structure healthier and the occupants less prone to respiratory illnesses. Of course, they also save energy, thus providing for a more affordable place to live or work.

There is a lot of misunderstanding about why the energy codes exist and what is included in them. Many builders feel this code is unnecessary and imposes extra cost. The code items are largely in the walls or above the ceiling or below the floor. Testing and verification of proper installation and operation of the installed equipment, distribution systems, insulation and air sealing are things that the average buyer doesn't think about or even know they should care about. Elected officials and code officials are asked to implement and verify compliance to the code, but they need good information to make good decisions about code adoption and enforcement. This explains why the EnergySmart Institute offers these new courses.

The 2021 and 2024 IECC Residential Energy Codes are intended to make new or existing residences more efficient, comfortable, safe and resilient against disasters. The EnergySmart Institute has developed courses specific to the energy code versions, but also a course that covers why the energy codes, or "Building Resiliency Codes" are important and should be implemented. The “Overview of the IECC Residential Energy Code” explains what is in the code, the intent of the code, and what is being verified for compliance by the code. This is a course that code officials have said is the first of its kind in that it doesn't just cover the requirements of the code, but why the code is important. They gain an understanding of the objectives of the code which informs their knowledge and on site verification.

EnergySmart Institute also announces its two other new courses, “2021 IECC Residential Energy Codes” and, coming soon, "2024 IECC Residential Energy Codes." Each course covers that version of the code specifically. It is recommended to take the “Overview of the IECC Residential Energy Code” first for a better understanding of what the code covers and why these items were incorporated into the code in the first place. These online and on-demand residential energy code courses are offered by the EnergySmart Institute and will be of interest to elected officials, energy code officials and inspectors, architects and engineers, energy professionals, plus anyone interested in how these new codes can be of benefit to them. Those considering the purchase of a home or deciding between apartments would benefit from this course because adherence to the code directly affects the pocketbook for the life of the structure.

EnergySmart Institute | https://energysmartinstitute.com/

Full Circle Lithium Corp. ("FCL" or the "Company") (TSXV: FCLI) (OTCQB: FCLIF) (FSE: K0Q), a leading U.S.-based manufacturer of lithium-ion battery fire extinguishing products, is pleased to announce its participation in the upcoming National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Conference today in Las Vegas, where the Company will engage with fire service leaders, safety professionals, regulators, and industry stakeholders from across North America.

The NFPA Conference arrives at a pivotal moment for Full Circle Lithium. Over the past four months, the Company has achieved significant commercial milestones that underscore the growing demand for specialized lithium-ion battery fire protection solutions.

Among the Company's recent achievements:

• Expanded production to full manufacturing capacity ahead of its North American retail rollout of FCL-X lithium-ion battery fire extinguishers.
• Successfully launched FCL-X into major U.S. retail channels, increasing accessibility for consumers, tradespeople, and commercial users.
• Announced the development of FCL-X GEL, a second-generation product designed specifically for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), one of the fastest-growing segments of the global energy market.
• Completed high-profile live burn demonstrations involving one of the world's largest logistics companies, seven major airlines, and representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
• Secured its first U.S. commercial deployment with a major waste management operator, addressing the rapidly growing challenge of lithium-ion battery fires in recycling and waste handling environments.

"Over the past several months, we've seen exceptional validation of both the problem and our solution," said Carlos Vicens, Chief Executive Officer of FCL "The demand for effective lithium-ion battery fire mitigation continues to accelerate across consumer, industrial, transportation, aviation, waste management, and energy storage markets. The NFPA Conference provides an ideal platform to connect with the fire service professionals who are on the front lines of this growing challenge."

The Company views the NFPA Conference as a critical event for the continued expansion of its firefighter and first-responder business line. Fire departments across North America are increasingly encountering lithium-ion battery incidents involving electric vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, energy storage systems, consumer electronics, and waste facilities. These fires present unique hazards due to thermal runaway, the potential for rapid reignition, toxic gas release, and prolonged burning.

As awareness of these risks grows, Full Circle Lithium believes firefighters are seeking practical, field-tested tools specifically designed to address lithium-ion battery incidents. The Company's participation at NFPA will focus on demonstrating the capabilities of the FCL-X platform and strengthening relationships with fire departments, training organizations, fire protection engineers, and emergency response agencies.

"Firefighters are increasingly being asked to respond to incidents that conventional suppression methods were never designed to handle," added Vicens. "NFPA plays an essential role in advancing fire safety standards, education, and best practices. We are proud to participate in this important gathering and support the fire service's efforts to address one of the fastest-growing fire risks of our time."

As electrification continues to expand globally, Full Circle Lithium remains committed to developing innovative solutions to protect people, property, critical infrastructure, and first

Full Circle Lithium | https://fcl-x.com/

Rock Tech Lithium Inc. ("Rock Tech" or the "Company") (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement dated June 17, 2026 (the "Option Agreement") with Bounty Gold Corp. ("Bounty") and Last Resort Resources Ltd. ("Last Resort") to acquire a 100% interest in the Victory Project (the "Victory Project", the "Project" or the "Property"), a 9,875-hectare lithium exploration property located approximately 45 km east of Kenora in Northwestern Ontario. If exploration is successful and subject to further technical evaluation, the Victory Project could represent a potential future source of lithium-bearing minerals for Rock Tech's planned made-in-Ontario lithium supply chain, supporting the province's EV and battery ecosystem and its emerging advanced manufacturing and defence sectors.

Victory complements the Company's Georgia Lake Project and proposed Red Rock Converter by adding an additional exploration-stage lithium property to the Company's Ontario asset portfolio. The Property hosts two known spodumene-bearing lithium-cesium-tantalum ("LCT") pegmatite occurrences at surface and is located near the Trans-Canada Highway and nearby CPKC rail access. Rock Tech believes the Property provides prospective exploration opportunities and, if successfully advanced, could represent a potential future source of spodumene feedstock for the Company's broader Ontario mine-to-converter strategy, subject to successful exploration and further technical evaluation.

Developing domestic sources of lithium feedstock is increasingly important as Ontario, Canada and allied economies seek to build secure, domestic critical minerals supply chains. By combining exploration and development opportunities with downstream conversion capacity, Rock Tech aims to help reduce dependence on overseas processing while supporting the growth of a secure North American lithium supply chain serving the EV and battery ecosystem and helping supply critical materials required by emerging advanced manufacturing and defence sectors.

Exploration Potential in an Infrastructure-Proximal Setting

The Victory Project hosts two known spodumene-bearing pegmatite occurrences: the Last Resort pegmatite and the Bounty pegmatite. These occurrences contain observed spodumene-bearing pegmatite mineralization at surface and provide multiple targets for future exploration.

The Last Resort pegmatite is the Company's initial priority target. Selective grab sampling from the occurrence has returned values of up to 5.11% Li₂O. The occurrence has been mapped at surface over approximately 200 metres of strike length and up to approximately 30 metres in width. The occurrence has not been drill-tested, and the extent of mineralization beyond the currently mapped exposure, including its depth extent, grade continuity and overall geometry, has not been established. Additional exploration, including drilling, will be required to evaluate the extent, continuity and significance of the observed mineralization.

The Bounty pegmatite, located approximately 6 km from the Last Resort pegmatite, has been mapped at surface over approximately 375 metres of strike length and up to approximately 60 metres in width. Spodumene-bearing samples from the Bounty occurrence have returned values of up to 3.48% Li₂O. The occurrence has not been drill-tested, and its depth extent, grade continuity and overall geometry have not been established.

The approximately 6 km linear area between the two known spodumene-bearing occurrences remains largely unexplored and will be evaluated through future exploration programs. Rock Tech intends to evaluate this corridor through staged fieldwork, including prospecting, geological mapping, sampling and, subject to results, targeted drilling. While mineralized continuity between the Last Resort and Bounty occurrences has not been established, the corridor represents a logical focus for future exploration.

Strategic Fit Within Rock Tech's Ontario Lithium Platform

Rock Tech's Ontario strategy is anchored by the Georgia Lake Project and the proposed Red Rock Converter. The addition of the Project provides the Company with additional exposure to lithium exploration opportunities in Northwestern Ontario and complements its existing asset base in the province.

The Georgia Lake Project and the Victory Project are separate mineral properties. Information, mineralization, mineral resources, mineral reserves and exploration results relating to the Georgia Lake Project are not necessarily indicative of mineralization, exploration potential or future results at the Victory Project.

Victory fits within Rock Tech's broader strategy of building a regional lithium platform around infrastructure-proximal assets that can be integrated into Ontario's existing transportation network. Similar to Georgia Lake, the Victory Project benefits from proximity to established road and rail infrastructure, including the Trans-Canada Highway and nearby CPKC rail access. These characteristics are important to Rock Tech's development approach, which is focused on identifying assets that can be evaluated through staged exploration programs and, if warranted by future exploration results and technical studies, considered for further advancement.

The Project is located approximately five hours by road from Rock Tech's proposed Red Rock Converter, creating a geographic connection within the Company's Ontario mine-to-converter strategy. If future exploration is successful and subsequent technical studies support further advancement of the Project, Victory may provide Rock Tech with additional optionality around future spodumene feedstock supply. Potential development and processing alternatives, including off-site processing, integration with existing or future regional infrastructure, or other project-specific pathways, would be evaluated only after additional exploration, technical studies and metallurgical testwork.

The acquisition of Victory reflects Rock Tech's disciplined approach to building a regional lithium platform in Northwestern Ontario. By securing prospective lithium assets located near existing infrastructure and within reach of the proposed Red Rock Converter, the Company continues to strengthen the foundations of a made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain capable of supporting future battery and advanced manufacturing industries.

"The Victory Project is a natural fit within our strategy of building a made-in-Ontario lithium supply chain," said Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO of Rock Tech. "Ontario has the resources, infrastructure and existing industrial base to become a leader in battery materials, including for the EV, advanced manufacturing and defence sectors. This strategic acquisition gives Rock Tech exposure to a prospective spodumene-bearing property with strong infrastructure attributes, while the option structure allows us to test the project through staged exploration before committing the majority of the acquisition consideration."

Transaction Terms

Under the Option Agreement, Rock Tech may acquire a 100% interest in the Victory Project by making aggregate payments of CAD $600,000 in cash and issuing CAD $400,000 in Rock Tech common shares over a 24-month period. The payments are staged, with CAD $150,000 in cash and CAD $100,000 in shares payable on signing, and the balance payable in two additional tranches on the 12-month and 24-month anniversaries of the Option Agreement.

The vendors will retain a 2.0% net smelter return royalty on the Victory Project. Rock Tech will have the right to purchase 1.0% of the NSR royalty for CAD $1.0 million at any time prior to a construction decision.

Additional milestone payments will become payable only upon the publication of future NI 43-101 (defined below) compliant mineral resource estimates, if any, on the Victory Project, including CAD $500,000 upon publication of a maiden mineral resource estimate of at least 10 million tonnes grading at least 1.0% Li₂O, CAD $1.0 million upon publication of a measured and indicated mineral resource estimate exceeding 25 million tonnes grading at least 1.0% Li₂O, and CAD $1.5 million upon publication of a measured and indicated mineral resource estimate exceeding 50 million tonnes grading at least 1.0% Li₂O. The foregoing resource thresholds are contractual payment milestones only and do not constitute estimates of mineral resources or mineral reserves on the Victory Project.

The transaction remains subject to customary conditions, including acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. Any common shares issued pursuant to the Option Agreement will be subject to applicable securities law resale restrictions and any hold periods required by the TSX Venture Exchange. The transaction is an arm's-length transaction and no finder's fees are payable in connection with the transaction.

"We have always believed the Victory Project is prospective for additional exploration, and the surface geology has consistently supported that view," said Jace Angell, President of Last Resort. "Rock Tech brings an established presence in Ontario and a clear strategy for building an integrated lithium business in the province. We are pleased to see the project move into its next phase."

"Rock Tech's Ontario strategy makes it a strong technical and strategic partner for the Victory Project," said Jason Leblanc, President of Bounty Gold. "The Property is still at an early exploration stage, but the known spodumene-bearing occurrences, infrastructure setting and regional context support a systematic exploration program. We look forward to seeing the results of Rock Tech's planned work program."

Supporting Rock Tech's Ontario Investment Strategy

The Victory Project reflects Rock Tech's continued commitment to investing in Ontario's critical minerals sector. Together with the Georgia Lake Project and the proposed Red Rock Converter, the Victory Project strengthens the Company's Ontario asset base and expands its portfolio of prospective lithium exploration properties.

Rock Tech intends to advance the Victory Project through a staged exploration program focused on validating known spodumene-bearing occurrences, testing extensions along strike and evaluating the underexplored corridor between the Last Resort and Bounty occurrences.

The Victory Project is an early-stage exploration property. While spodumene-bearing pegmatites have been identified at surface, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and there can be no assurance that further exploration will result in the delineation of a mineral resource or that the Project will ultimately prove to be economically viable.

Technical Disclosure

Certain technical information contained in this news release is derived from historical exploration work completed by previous property owners and operators. While Rock Tech has reviewed available historical records, the Company has not independently verified all historical exploration information and readers should not place undue reliance on historical exploration results pending completion of additional verification work. The historical exploration information referenced in this news release should not be interpreted as a mineral resource estimate or mineral reserve estimate. Additional exploration activities, including field verification, confirmatory sampling and drilling, will be required to verify historical results and evaluate the extent, continuity and significance of the reported mineralization.

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Cameron Andrews, P.Eng., a "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The sample results disclosed in this news release are from selective grab samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization across the Victory Project. Grab samples are inherently selective in nature and should not be relied upon as representative of average grade, thickness or continuity of mineralization. Rock Tech has reviewed available historical reports, sampling records and assay information provided by the vendors; however, the Company has not completed independent field verification, confirmatory sampling or twinning of historical results. The Company has not independently verified all historical or vendor-generated assay results and therefore readers should not place undue reliance on such information until additional verification work has been completed. The qualified person has not completed sufficient work to independently verify all such historical exploration information.

The Victory Project does not currently host a mineral resource estimate or mineral reserve estimate.

The potential processing pathways discussed in this news release are conceptual in nature. No metallurgical testwork, mining study, preliminary economic assessment, pre-feasibility study or feasibility study has been completed on the Victory Project by Rock Tech to support any such processing or development alternative, and there can be no assurance that any such alternative will prove technically or economically viable.

Rock Tech Lithium | https://rocktechlithium.com/en/

Nextpower (Nasdaq: NXT), a leading provider of solar and power technology solutions, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Zimmermann PV-Steel Group, a Germany-based solar technology provider with more than 20 gigawatts (GW) deployed and deep market presence in Germany, one of Europe’s largest solar markets. Zimmermann was founded in 1950 and expanded into the solar industry in 2009, delivering more than 2,500 solar projects across 58 countries.

By broadening its product portfolio and deepening its regional presence, this acquisition will accelerate Nextpower’s ability to deliver world-class support and comprehensive solutions to solar developers and EPC customers across Europe. The total consideration for the transaction is comprised of cash and stock of up to €330 million, or approximately $378 million based on exchange rates as of June 20, 2026, and is subject to customary closing conditions including required regulatory review. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of Nextpower’s fiscal 2027.

“This transaction represents the next chapter for Nextpower internationally,” said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextpower. “With Zimmermann, we will significantly expand our product platform and add complementary market presence and supply chain capability in Europe and beyond. Zimmermann’s structural solutions, including fixed tilt, carports, high-density trackers, innovative agriPV solutions, and floating PV will expand our European portfolio to support a broader range of land-use, permitting requirements, and regional use cases. We see a clear opportunity to combine Zimmermann’s strong product engineering and execution capabilities with Nextpower’s bankability and complete product platform to better meet the needs of customers in Europe and accelerate profitable international growth.”

“Zimmermann has built its business by staying customer-focused and delivering high-quality engineered solutions for specific project needs,” said Robert Zimmermann, owner and CEO, Zimmermann. “In Nextpower, we see a partner with highly complementary technologies, geographic footprint, and customer focus. They bring scale and complementary solutions and capabilities that will help us serve our customers more broadly while preserving the local relationships and engineering focus that have defined our business. We see this as an exciting next chapter for our company and employees, as well as for our customers, suppliers, and partners across Europe.”

Fixed tilt represents approximately 50 percent of Europe's utility PV market today according to S&P Global, especially in markets such as Germany, France, and Poland. This transaction, together with Nextpower’s recent international launch of NX Gemini™, a two-in-portrait (2P) tracker, is expected to more than double Nextpower’s addressable GW opportunity in Europe.

Following the transaction close, the company is expected to operate as “Zimmermann PV, a Nextpower Company,” preserving continuity for customers, employees, and regional market relationships while enabling the business to scale through Nextpower’s global footprint.

To learn more about this announcement, see Nextpower’s investor presentation or visit the Nextpower stand 580 (Hall A5) at The Smarter E Europe and Intersolar Europe tradeshow being held in Munich from June 23-25.

Adjusted EBITDA excludes interest expense, adjustment for taxes, depreciation, stock-based compensation, net intangible amortization, and acquisition-related costs. A quantitative reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable GAAP measure, net income, is not available without unreasonable efforts.

Nextpower | www.nextpower.com

Zimmermann PV-Steel Group | www.pv-steel-group.com

Lightshift Energy announced six new battery energy storage projects at municipal light departments in Massachusetts. The projects serve Georgetown, Ipswich, Groton, Princeton, Ashburnham and Marblehead and will add over 23 MW of storage capacity to a portfolio that already includes six operational projects, marking the latest phase of Lightshift’s statewide program.

The six new projects include:

• Georgetown Municipal Light Department: 3 MW
• Ipswich Electric Department: 5 MW
• Groton Electric Light Department (Groton 3): 4 MW
• Princeton Municipal Light Department: 3.5 MW
• Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant: 3 MW
• Marblehead Municipal Light Department: 5MW

Together, the new projects are expected to deliver more than $90 million in lifetime savings for participating utilities and their ratepayers.

Each battery system charges during off-peak hours when electricity is cheap and discharges during high-demand periods when costs spike, a practice known as peak shaving. Transmission and capacity charges during peak demand events are among the largest drivers of rising electricity rates in Massachusetts. By strategically reducing load during these peaks, the batteries directly lower costs for municipal utilities and the communities they serve. By shifting energy from periods of lower demand to periods of peak demand, the system also helps reduce the need for fossil fuel generation when it is most heavily relied upon.

Lightshift has developed a portfolio-based model where projects are mobilized together and, in the aggregate, provide a lower cost and larger scale capacity resource to the grid. This approach enables municipal utilities to capture the economies of scale typically available only through much larger individual projects, while delivering faster deployment and greater locational value at the distribution level.

Key to this effort has been Lightshift’s partnership with the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC), the largest provider of asset-owned generation for municipal light departments in New England and a leading public power joint action agency in the US. By working in close coordination with joint action agencies like MMWEC, Lightshift can maximize deployment across large membership groups to achieve speed, value and cost advantages that aren’t otherwise available in the market.

"Massachusetts' municipal utilities have often paved the way on the frontier of grid modernization, and these projects continue that tradition," said Rory Jones, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Lightshift Energy. "What makes this program particularly unique is the portfolio strategy. By developing these projects as a fleet across the state, we’re able to dramatically reduce cost and increase speed to interconnect, maximizing savings, reliability, and market value for participating communities. For municipal utilities looking to rapidly manage rising energy costs and strengthen their systems, this model provides a powerful blueprint."

A seventh project is in construction and will be announced soon, while Ipswich is in the final stages of construction. An additional eight Lightshift projects are in advanced stages of development in the Commonwealth.

Lightshift Energy | www.lightshift.com